The Artist's Wife

Staying true to the name, The Artist's Wife, directed by Tom Dolby, is a moving portrayal of the life of an artist but recounted through the perspective of his wife, much like viewing a portrait from a new angle. Premiered in 2019, this movie stands as a testament to how artistic expression plays a significant role in shaping our lives, sometimes, at the cost of eroding personal relationships. Stupendously played by Lena Olin and Bruce Dern, the lead roles paint a canvas of emotions, love, and chaos that the world of art often becomes.

The narrative opens with the introduction of Claire (Lena Olin), the wife of a renowned abstract artist, Richard Smythson (Bruce Dern). Claire, once a promising artist herself, has surrendered her ambitions, gravitating towards the role of a devoted spouse; a supporting pillar to her husband's artistic genius. Together they have built an idyllic life in upstate New York, surrounded by the quiet elegance of nature and the riotous colors of Richard’s art.

However, their harmonious existence is about to face a severe challenge. Richard, who is renowned for his bold colors and eccentric personality, is facing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, slowly losing the ability to connect with his art. As the illness progresses, his behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and he becomes less of the man Claire once knew, leaving her struggling to make sense of their quickly fracturing world.

Her husband's deteriorating health propels Claire to reacquaint herself with her lost identity beyond Richard's wife, reigniting her passion and sense of self. Far from being the archetypal spouse of a towering art figure, she embarks on a journey to redefine the essence of her existence.

As Richard’s work becomes wild and uninhibited, Claire can’t avoid seeing parallels to his unraveling mind. Concluding that she must act to save her husband, Claire takes drastic steps to reassemble the pieces of their former life. In her mission to hold onto her husband’s legacy, she reconnects with her old art crowd, attempting to reignite an art piece that has been kept under the shroud for years, indicating a metaphorical hint to her repressed artistic flair.

Amid the chaos of her crumbling married life, she gains unlikely support from her estranged step-daughter played by Juliet Rylance and a new potential love interest setting her up for a journey of self-realization and independence. As she grapples with the changes, Claire’s role evolves from merely the artist's wife to a woman defining her next chapter, balancing damage control in her personal life and chasing her lose threads in her art.

The film’s drama is counterbalanced with the picturesque landscape of the Hamptons and New York, complementing the emotional turmoil with visual tranquility, almost hinting at how art can become a coping mechanism. The aesthetically pleasing settings provide a pleasant contrast to the internal unrest explored through the characters.

The exceptional performances of the actors, particularly Lena Olin and Bruce Dern, make the movie a worthwhile watch. Olin, as Claire, resonates a certain gravity and fragility, effectively portraying the dynamism of a woman grappling with her life's upheaval. Bruce Dern, on the other hand, does an extraordinary job portraying the volatility and unpredictability of a man succumbing to the grip of Alzheimer's, all while maintaining the pride and stubbornness of a passionate artist.

The Artist's Wife is not just about the course of an artist's life. Instead, it intricately weaves the realm of fine art and the struggle of personal relationships, striking a balance between a challenging topic like Alzheimer's and the rejuvenating essence of art. Masterly crafted, the film leaves the audience navigating an emotional labyrinth of love, loss, betrayal, and self-discovery. It delves deep into the essence of being not just an artist but being 'The Artist's Wife', throwing light on the unspoken sacrifices and silent strength required to play that role. It raises a toast to all those who stand beside an artist, often disregarded in the shadows, but without whom the art would lose its complete meaning.